Strange and Unusual

We have discovered in a very short time that most things don't work or happen the same in Uganda as they do at home. We've made a little list of things we've done or experienced here that would never happen at home. 

-- We answer to different names here. At the babies' home we soon realized our names were impossible for many of the staff to pronounce. We are now known as Sherry and Maureen. 

-- Each baby has two names that are often used interchangeably - one is Ugandan and one is English. Distinguishing one child from another has been a challenge.  After being here for two weeks we still couldn't tell Mark and Anatole apart. We then discovered he is the same boy. 

-- When crossing the street look neither to the left or to the right. Just find a Ugandan who is crossing the street and stay on their heels like your life depends on it - which, in fact it does. 

-- In Jinja we used a toilet that was flush with the floor. 

-- We frequently hear the whistles of traffic cops, especially during busy times ( which means busier than the usual busy). 

-- Many things are more complicated and time-consuming here. Like brushing your teeth and trying to remember not to use the tap water, trying to use our already-challenging communication devices and getting the mosquito net in place before settling for the night. 

-- In the afternoons the infants lie outside under a thatched shelter. It always seems strange to us to see the hens and roosters strutting around right beside them. 

Ahhh Africa!  It's an amazing journey.